Untacked

CHRONOFHORSE.COM JA N UA R Y/ F E B R UA R Y 2 016 43 Official PerfOrmance HOrse BOOt and leg Wear Of tHe Usef made in Usa Equifit,Inc® and the Equifit logo are registered trademarks. All rights reserved ©2015 EF15_41 10/15 Flaunt your style anytime with our luxurious standard color options. Available all the time in-stores or online at the same price as the original Black, Black-Ostrich and Brown styles. Crafted with materials of the highest quality and equipped with the most advanced technologies available. It's unbeatable protection and performance with a little something extra. ImpacTeq TM Half Pads D-Teq TM Boots Ear Bonnets * Colors may appear different in person Visit EquiFit.net or call 877.437.8434 to learn more. Check us out at a local tack store near you. EF15_41 Stock Color Products Ad_Untacked 8x4.75.indd 1 12/6/15 8:20 PM by the national federation, but materials and bowties are not mentioned. "I designed a denim, Aviator- inspired jacket, with a big belt and buckle, but it's black," says Cook. "It's my craziest one and weighs about eight pounds. I've only worn it twice, but it's pretty awesome." Cook doesn't push the rules every time out, and he's learning where and when to push the envelope. He notes he's met the most resistance at Spruce Meadows in Alberta, Canada."I think it was more important to protect tradition there," he says. "I just try to be cordial about it. It's easier now than it used to be when I first started wearing [bowties]." Despite Cook 's declaration that he's not a big fashion buff, there are equestrian styling tips to pick up from his insights. For example, he won't wear certain colors on certain horses. "It doesn't look right to wear a cashmere camel coat on a chestnut horse because the combination washes everything out," he explains. "And some gray colors don't look good with gray horses for the same reason." At the end of the day, Cook says he's working under the conviction that more exciting competition wear will help equestrian sport appeal to a wider audience. "Our sport is hard enough to watch when spectators don't know what they're looking at, when we all come in wearing the exact same thing," he says. "at doesn't help to differentiate the riders. Plus it's just interesting when people wear different outfits." Cook is an advocate for the tasteful restructuring of federations' rules for riding attire, but he's still very much a traditionalist when it comes to dressing in unity when competing on a national team. "ere are times when people are not traditional enough, like with the red coats," Cook says. "e red for the United States team coat is a very specific red, with a very specific blue collar. I feel like the U.S. should be a little more protective over that style, instead of letting people wear whatever they want. One brand's colors and buttons are different from another's, and for representing a country, it needs to be one style, one fit." at said, Cook has no plans to tone down his personal fashion choices when riding as an individual. "I've got some more crazy ideas," he promises. "We'll see. ey might come out next year."

• Cover